There is nothing in the description of the Rosarius specifying activation, duration or recharge. However, it is described as a "conversion field".

Other Force Fields are the Amulet of Warding and the Refractor Field, which function in exactly the same way as the rosarius mechanically. These all have a 1 hour period of operation before requiring recharging (or a new power-cell).

Amulet of Warding, 30 000 Thrones, Very Rare

Refractor Field, 20 000 Thrones, Very Rare

The Rosarius, on the other hand, is only Rare, while costing about the same: 25 000.

I find it doubtful that the Rosarius has some sort of magical neverending powersupply, while the more expensive and rarer Amulet of Warding does not. I believe the Rosarius is meant to have the same duration and re-charge needs as the other fields, and that this is a simple omission.

Thoughts?

Your probably right that the charge would need replacing but i was my understanding that you couldn't buy a Rosarius as they are awarded for service to the faith, so only really availible to Space Marine Chaplins, some witch hunter inquisitors and a few high ranking members of the ministorum.

Not so, as the description in the Inquisitors Handook states:

A protective device granted to senior members of the Ecclesiarchy’s chamber militant and most zealous battlefield preachers, this traditional badge of faith also incorporates a powerful conversion field generator to shield its wearer from harm. Because of their close ecumenical ties to the priesthood, Inquisitors and agents of the Ordo Hereticus are often found in possession of Rosarius and depend on their almost miraculous powers to fend off harm.

There may be other similar devices that are restricted to the (very) high and mighty, but while this comes with a hefty 20 000 thrones price tag, it is not that hard to get hold of (Rare v. Very Rare, making this more available than many boltguns and other interesting pieces of gear that floats around)

On a related question, would this field stop flamers? Grenades? Thrown Rocks? Tomatoes?

Rare is, IMO, much too generous availability for a Rosarius. Maybe 'near unique' would be better?

And, it has to have some kind of power cell, along with an "off" switch. Free and always on just isn't grimdark enough for 40K, even if it is a relic from the Dark Age of Technology.

Conversion fields stop any ranged attack. In the Rogue Trader rules (which are not guaranteed to be consistent with Dark Heresy), it stops anything, provided the attack doesn't originate from a point touching the character. So, it would not protect against a land mine. Nor would it protect you if you get the dreaded grenade -> jam (96-100 roll) -> explodes in your hand. However, it would protect against thrown grenades, flamers, and etcetera.

Protecting against melee attacks is a GM judgement call. (RAW + yes it protects. RAI = ?) Also, I don't think it protects against poison gas.

Cheers,

- V.

I think Near unique is taking it too far. At most a rosarius should be very or extremely rare.

It is my belief that it would not always be on.

Also anything can be bought The rosarius costs a pretty penny because that is the money you have to drop, to have a chance of getting one, if you are not one of aforementioned church officials or lunatics, who gets one bestowed on them.

Omnissian axes can be bought too if we look at rogue trader, because they have the kind of cash lying around to get their hands on one.

In the 41st millenium there is only way!

...and somewhere, someone is making ALOT of money off of it.

Vandegraffe said:

I'd say it should protect against melee. A conversion field converts energy to light, including the kinetic energy of a melee attack. Gasses, no. It doesn't actually form a "solid" barrier. Otherwise the user would need a respirator to use when the field is on. Besides, poison gas damages by inhalation; no energy involved. Now you've got me thinking about spit poison/acid. I'd rule that anything physical doesn't just vanish & could still potentially pose a threat. For example; a thrown knife could be robbed of its kinetic enery and fall to the ground harmlessly. It is still there though. A puddle of tyranid bio-acid would still an environmental hazard even if it did not contact the field user.

Well, accoring to the rules it does NOT protect against melee, so that part is clear. The Amulet of Warding does, however.

The Rosarius only works on Ranged attacks, which accoring to the RAW includes thrown weapons (including improvised thrown weapons) and flamer attacks. But I find the latter a little strange.

Darth Smeg said:

Nearyn said:

Except for the whole thing about various agencies wanting to kill you if they see you with something you're not supposed to have. Just cause you have the money, or even the power, to get ahold of something like that, doesn't mean you'll keep it. Or live to enjoy it.

Nothing is likely to get you dead faster than saying, in public, "Hey, wanna hear about the Space Marine Geneseed I just bought?"

To get back on topic: Is there any references in fluff or crunch to items as small as a necklace running perpetually without respite or recharge, using similarly significant levels of power?

Maintaining a force field such as this is no mean feat, and I'd imagine doing so non-stop would require a power generator the size of a small house
Or at least similar to the power armours that have fusion generators in their backpacks.

Lynata said:

You are absolutely correct in that. It's also worth noting that The Rosarius as written in Rites of Battle does not state that it only protects from ranged attacks. Also, it does not have a power limit in that version of the rules either. Just for the sake of completness, I pulled out my old Inquisitor book (narrative miniature game for any who don't know it). Those rules don't deal with a power supply, but DO state that all force fields offer ranged protection only. It's worth noting that this is the only other place I have seen a conversion field listed this way. As a GM, I would just make up a power supply for it that makes sense when compared to the other fields.

Well, today I got a reply from Mac Martin:

Salutations Acolyte!

Indeed the Rosarius is rare. This comes with a few caveats, however. It is a holy item, while plentiful within the Ecclesiarchy (and therefore not as difficult to acquire) it would be near-heresy for a non-Ecclesiarch / Inquisitor to carry one! It is always on, and it's power source does last 24/7, although only those without faith in the God-Emperor would wear it all the time.

So yes, mechanically it is "just better" but there are a lot of social implications that come along with a Rosarius. I hope this helps!

That's a little surprising, and does not quite jive with the Inquisitors Handbooks blurb about "agents" using it:

" Because of their close ecumenical ties to the priesthood, Inquisitors and agents of the Ordo Hereticus are often found in possession of Rosarius and depend on their almost miraculous powers to fend off harm. "

But there you are, the official verdict is in.

Darth Smeg said:

Personally then I'd add a house rule about needing to have a minum amount of corruption for it to work. A lot of Faith Powers have 20 as a cut off IIRC

funkwit81 said:

Aside from that, what does corruption have to do with a technological device? Especially one which is commonly found in possession of the most devout servants of the Emperor? >_>

I just saw the holy item words and extrapolated Lynata. Also there are a few powers that will effect Creatures with 20 or more CP such as Holy Light, and Divine Symbol won't work on someone that has 20 CP points along with quite a few of the more powerful 'Emperors Mercy' abilities.

As the Rosarius is a symbol of the emperors might and divine protection* it's something I intend on house ruling.

*and it seems a bit too powerful to me with the infinite battery, maybe another source is providing the protection...

funkwit81 said:

Making it a Holy Item makes sense, and is a good idea. But which words are you referring to?

Hey Darth I just saw It is a holy item based on the message you got from Mac Martin.

As I said it's just a house rule I intend on implementing if any of my players ever prove their worth, and survive the current adventure in the depths of Hive Sibellus which they've ****** up royally!

Sorry for the late reply it's the end of term, the weather's been gorgeous and there's beack parties aplenty :-)

But still - a holy item requiring a minimum amount of corruption? That seems somewhat counter-productive ...

Or did you mean that it would stop working for corrupted characters? As an incentive for players to remain pure?

A Blessed Weapon would burn a person with 20+ CPs and cannot be used by them. A similar mechanic could be enforced for other holy weapons

Hmm. It's a piece of technology as opposed to some sanctified relic, and often found in the possession of fairly "impure" characters - on the other hand, it would deliver an interesting, "less secular" explanation as to why Vandire's Rosarius failed him as Alicia cast her judgement.

I suppose it depends on how much "magic" you'd want in the setting, but it's a neat idea.

Lynata said:

Aye sorry Lynata I realise i was far from clear in my initial posts, as well as potentially comnig across as arsey which was never my intention.

The house rule i'm going to use if it won't work for those with 20 CP or more and if someone with say 40/50 CP tries to use it then they'll be damaged by the Rosarius as it rejects them, maybe something like a 1d5+2 damage that can't be soaked by toughness or Armour as the Emperors light scourges their soul. Or some such thing.

That's pretty much what I was thinking too...